exploration of digya national park, ghana (january … of digya national park, ghana (january 2005,...

Exploration of Digya National Park, Ghana (January 2005, March 2008, March 2009),

with special reference to birds

Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire & Robert J. Dowsett

A report prepared for the Wildlife Division, Forestry Commission, Accra

Dowsett-Lemaire Misc. Report 57 (2009)

Dowsett-Lemaire F. & Dowsett R.J. 2009. Exploration of Digya National Park,Ghana (January 2005, March 2008 and March 2009), with special reference tobirds. Dowsett-Lemaire Misc. Rep. 57: 24 pp.

E-mail: [email protected]

Exploration of Digya National Park, Ghana (January 2005, March 2008 and March 2009),

with special reference to birds

by Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire & Robert J. Dowsett

Acknowledgements

For the 2005 visit we thank the Executive Director of the Wildlife Division, Forestry Commission (Y. Ofori-Frimpong) and the Regional Director of IUCN (I. Thiaw) for inviting us to undertake surveys. Wildlife Divisionin Accra (especially Mike Adu-Nsiah and K. Menka) and IUCN/WDSP advisors Peter Howard and Phil Marshallprovided logistical help and supervision. In 2005 we were accompanied by James Oppong (Biodiversity Moni-toring Unit). In 2008-09 the Executive Director Nana Mike Adu-Nsiah encouraged us to continue our work inDigya, and in 2008 William Apraku (from Shai Hills Resource Reserve) was a very competent assistant in the field.The Park’s manager at Atebubu, Ben Asamoah-Boateng, and his staff provided much assistance; special thanksgo to John Bosco, the driver of the 4 x 4 lorry who took us safely to Apapasu camp.

Summary

Digya N.P. is the second largest national park in Ghana, covering 3478 km². The vegetation in the north consistsmainly of Sudanian woodland with small patches of dry forest, whereas the more humid south is clearly in theforest/savanna transition zone, with extensive Daniellia transition woodland in the south-west. The wet riparianforests on the Volta and main tributaries were flooded by the Akosombo Dam in the 1960s and the shores ofLake Volta are bordered mostly by herbaceous vegetation. Today remnants of dry semi-evergreen forest are tobe found in the south and south-west away from the Lake, in dry situations or on semi-permanent streams orrivers.

From 20-31 January 2005 we carried out surveys of the birds in the north on the lake-shore (Dadi-tokolo, Walando, one night at Dome) and south-west (Hwanyanso, Nsuganyafo); from 1-12 March 2008 weexplored the section around Dome and the Sene river on the north-western boundary, and the old Apapasu campin the west, 10 km east of the boundary; from 12-17 March 2009 we visited the bovals, woodland and riparianforests of the Apesika ridge and Obosum and Sumi rivers in the south. As many as 297 bird species are nowknown from the park.

The most important find in 2008 and 2009 was the re-discovery of the Black-headed Bee-eater Meropsbreweri, a rare species of the forest/savanna transition zone in West Africa, known from just one previous recordin Ghana (1952, on the Afram river). A few pairs were found breeding in dry riparian forest in the Apapasuregion and also on the Sumi river, and overall there is much suitable habitat in the south of the park for thisspecies.

Other species of interest include the African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus baeticatus foundnesting on the northern lake-shore, a completely new population and a first for Ghana. Several species from thenorthern savannas reach their southern limits in Digya, e.g. Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki, Sun LarkGalerida modesta, Rufous Cisticola Cisticola rufus, Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatica, the rare Emin’sShrike Lanius gubernator, and Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus. Also of note are some of theforest or forest-edge birds in the south-west, such as the Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus, a forest rap-tor probably at its northern limit in Ghana, and the little-known White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriornis leucolophaand Pale-fronted Negrofinch Nigrita luteifrons. One black phase of the rare Palaearctic Eleonora’s Falcon Falcoeleonorae was seen at Daditokolo on 22-23 January 2005 and is a first record for Ghana.

Access to the park is very difficult in the absence of roads; in 2008 we re-opened the old bush track

Exploration of Digya National Park, Ghana -1- Dowsett-Lemaire Misc. Rep. 57 (2009)

to Apapasu camp, itself abandoned since the early 1990s. Elephants are still common in the west and south-west, but poaching is a problem. This area in general would be better prospected and protected with the resto-ration or opening of a few rough tracks, but clearly more staff and financial means ought to be made available.

1. INTRODUCTION

Digya N.P., created in 1971, is the second largest national park in Ghana, after Mole. It covers 3478 km², pro-tecting the western shores of Lake Volta and the intervening country between the Sene and Obosum arms,which form the northern and southern boundaries respectively. Most of the level land is covered with various typesof Sudanian savanna, but the south of the park is clearly in the forest/savanna transition zone. The riparian orrain forests which in the past lined the Volta and main tributaries were completely flooded by the AkosomboDam; the shores of present-day Lake Volta are at most covered by grass and sedges. Today forest remnants areto be found mainly in the south-west, away from the Lake, and along some semi-permanent streams. Otherimportant habitats present include bovals.

Logistically Digya is cut in two. The north is administered from Atebubu, the south from Donkorkrom.The south is particularly cut off from the rest of the country, as reaching Donkorkrom requires a ferry crossingat Adowso, a rather slow process. Reaching Donkorkrom from Atebubu by car requires nearly two days (viaKumasi). The park has no roads, and even reaching the various camps situated on or near the boundary is noteasy. The sand tracks in the south-west are very rough as they are mainly used by tractors; only the track toApesika is open year-round. In the north only two camps (Dome on the Sene, Daditokolo on the Lake in thefar east) can be approached by car; a short canoe crossing is still necessary from the end of the roads as thesecamps are just inside the park, on the northern lake-shore. The other camps are out of reach, except (some) bymotorcycle, then again a canoe crossing. A number of small fishing settlements remain in the park, on all shoresincluding those of the Digya arm; there are no longer any villages in the interior.

During our first visit from 20-31 January 2005 we spent just over 4 days in the north (at Daditokoloand Walando), with one night at Dome on the way, and nearly 5 days in the south (at Hwanyanso and Nsu-gyanafo), see Appendix 1 and 2. Interviews with staff, and especially the mobile anti-poaching team, made usrealize the importance of the Apapasu area of the west, so our second visit in March 2008 included the Apapasuregion, as well as a few days in the Dome area.

Reaching the west of the park is even more complicated, as the public road to the boundary (at the aban-doned Sabuso camp) is very bad, being accessible from Anyinofi only to lorries or tractors, and then only in thedry season (this road is completely cut off from late March to November). From Sabuso camp on the westernboundary there used to be a bush track leading 10 km east to Apapasu camp, built in 1971. This track and Apa-pasu camp were abandoned in the early 1990s. The only way of getting there was in fact with a sturdy lorry, asthe track had to be re-opened after about 15 years of neglect. Fortunately the park’s driver, John Bosco, ownsa 4 x 4 lorry (dating back to the 1960s, but kept in good condition) and arrangements were made at Atebubu touse this vehicle.

In 2009 we devoted five days to the exploration of the Apesika ridge in the south-east: interestinghabitats in this area include bovals and patches of dry forest in hollows or along semi-permanent streams. AtApesika camp the Obosum river is, much like the Sene river at Dome, more a narrow arm of the Lake, but natu-ral stretches of the river (with rich riparian forest) can be visited upstream from Apesika, and also from Bunasoto the west, where the Sumi river (a long affluent of the Bunda and Obosum) can also be reached. Access inthis region is facilitated by the existence of old paths going north across woodland towards the Digya arm orthe northern lake-shore.

The park had never been explored by ornithologists. The nearest locality for which we have some (old)bird records is Kete Krachi. Of particular interest are old specimens of forest species, i.e. the Great Blue TuracoCorythaeola cristata and Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus (both collected in the 19th century, Grimes1987, Reichenow 1897). This shows that the riparian forests (now destroyed) on the Volta in the Kete Kra-chi area would have been extensive and rather humid. There is also an old sight record of a hornbill of primaryforest, Yellow-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna elata (Grimes 1987). There is little doubt that the climate in theVolta drainage has become drier since the creation of the Lake, a phenomenon in reverse of what is observed

Dowsett-Lemaire Misc. Rep. 57 (2009) -2- Exploration of Digya National Park, Ghana

in the highlands further east (e.g. Kyabobo).

Weather conditions. In January 2005 there was much Harmattan in the north, which was very dry. The weatherchanged completely by the time we reached the south, and several storms hit the area on 25, 28 and 29 January.These were very early, and elicited calling in a number of bird species that might otherwise have been missed.March 2008 was hot and humid, with localized storms which, however, did not hit us on any day. There washeavy rainfall on 11 March to the west of Apapasu (near Sabuso). By 12 March 2009, the Apesika ridge hadexperienced two big rains, and there was a flush of fresh grass and flowers everywhere, although we had littlemore than drops during our stay.

Timing of our visits. Late January is a suitable time for Palaearctic migrants, at least those species wintering inthe area. It is a little early for the local avifauna, as breeding in a number of species would not begin before thestart of the rains proper. However, the unusual weather conditions in the south in January 2005 provoked asharp increase in vocal activity. Several of the cuckoos were calling by the end of the month. The second andthird visits in March had all cuckoos calling (although Red-chested was barely starting), and additional Palaearc-tic migrants passing through, while some intra-African migrants had arrived recently.

Mist-netting. None was carried out in 2008-09. On 24-25 Jan 2005 120 metres of net had been set in tall Hy-parrhenia and other grass on the shore of Lake Volta at Walando. This was mainly to identify (and ring) Palaearcticand other warblers that appeared to be numerous in this habitat, as yet unburnt: 54 birds of 6 species were ringedin a day and a half, while large numbers of weavers and some other common African species were released un-ringed.

2. HABITAT CLASSIFICATION

Digya N.P. was the subject of a habitat survey by K. Schmitt and M. Adu-Nsiah in the 1990s, but this reporthas been lost and apparently not a single printed copy has survived (M. Adu-Nsiah pers. comm.). A short sum-mary of this report is included in the Management Plan (1995), which we consulted in Atebubu. Four maintypes are mentioned in this document:

1. the dominant vegetation consists of various types of Sudanian (= Guinea-Sudanian) woodland (called “tallgrass savanna” in the report, but wooded grassland or woodland would be a better expression);

2. aquatic vegetation grows on the shores of the Lake, and appears to be most extensive in the north-east, aswell as in the Digya arm;

3. bovals and flat rocky outcrops are concentrated in the south and south-east; 4. riparian forest is found mainly along some of the tributaries of the three “arms” of the Lake. The arms them-

selves (Sene, Digya and Obosum from north to south) do not support any riparian forest. The forests thatwere flooded by the dam have never regenerated anywhere on the lake-shore.

On the accompanying vegetation map, an important area of forest/savanna mosaic is shown as occurring betweenthe bovals and the Digya arm, on the Apesika ridge.

What is not mentioned in this short summary is the existence of small remnants of dry semi-evergreen(semi-deciduous) forest in the south-west, from the southern boundary (Nsugyanafo) north to the Apapasuregion. These patches are mostly along seasonal streams, but sometimes stand away from water. Some impor-tant riparian forest also occurs along the semi-permanent Bunda river, part of the Obosum, and along anotherimportant tributary, the Sumi. The Sumi retains very large pools of water throughout the year, and the same istrue of the Bunda and Obosum upstream of Apesika. The Sumi flows from west to east into the Bunda, and theninto the Obosum.


The following habitat details were noted for the sites we visited:

Aquatic vegetation. The northern lake-shore is mostly sandy, and the main vegetation consists of a narrow ringof sedges and floating grass (Vossia) giving way to a wider belt of drier, tall Hyparrhenia grass. Woodland thenfollows. In sheltered arms and creeks floating grass can be quite extensive (as near Walando peninsula). TheSene river arm at the level of Dome is also mostly sandy, with grass; the riparian forest was clearly flooded whenthe dam was created (many dead trunks remain) and never regrew. There are a few scattered trees (Pterocarpussantalinoides) down-stream.

Wooded grassland, woodland and transition woodland. In the surroundings of Daditokolo, the dominantlarge tree is Daniellia oliveri, which reaches 20-22 m in places. Some of the woodland is transitional, withsmall groves of Anogeissus leiocarpus and the grass layer may be replaced by the invasive Chromolaena odorata,but only in small pockets. Much of the woodland along the 3-km walk to a fishing hamlet had recently been burnt:the fire was so severe that it had scorched a lot of Daniellia right to the tops, thus destroying inflorescences andyoung pods. Woodland on the Walando peninsula is more humid, with Daniellia, Ficus ingens and F. sur, Khayasenegalensis, Parkia biglobosa, Piliostigma thonningii, Terminalia avicennioides, Vitellaria paradoxa.

Woodland near Dome and Apapasu occurs in patches on ridges. Daniellia is dominant, other speciesincluding Afzelia africana, Annona senegalensis, Borassus aethiopum, Crossopteryx febrifuga, Ficus ingens,Gardenia ternifolia, Hymenocardia acida, Khaya senegalensis, Lannea acida, L. barteri, Lophira lanceolata,Sarcocephalus (=Nauclea) latifolius, Parkia biglobosa, Piliostigma thonningii, Pseudocedrela kotschyi,


Pteleopsis suberosa, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Sterculia setigera, Stereospermum kunthianum, Terminalia cf. laxi-flora, Vitellaria paradoxa. Acacia sieberiana occurs locally (Dome) in floodable areas. Near Apapasu about halfof the woodland areas has been invaded by Chromolaena odorata. According to the head guard from Sabum (whohas known Apapasu since 1989) this phenomenon is relatively recent; Chromolaena acts as a barrier to fires (ex-cept the fiercest) and may encourage some species of dry forest to get established, thus the woodland graduallyturns into transition woodland or dry forest.

In the south-west the main type of woodland is probably best qualified as transition woodland. Danielliaoliveri is still the dominant tree around the camps of Hwanyanso and Nsugyanafo. These reach a height of 25-30 m. Other species include: Afzelia africana, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Hymenocardia acida, Lophira lanceo-lata, Parkia biglobosa, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Sterculia setigera, Terminalia cf. laxiflora, Vitellaria paradoxa.Tall palms (Borassus aethiopum) are quite common. Much of the grassland is replaced by dense Chromolaenaodorata and there are other small thickets and liane tangles. We even saw a big Erythrophleum on the boun-dary line near Hwanyanso, away from any water.

On the Apesika ridge there is a sharper contrast between woodland and patches of dry forest; woodlandon the ridges and on the edge of bovals is dominated by Crossopteryx frebifuga, Lophira lanceolata and especiallyTerminalia cf. laxiflora, with also Daniellia oliveri, Hymenocardia acida, Piliostigma thonningii and Vitellariaparadoxa. Most of this woodland is rather short, around 6-8 m tall, with some taller fragments on better soilsor in hollows. Borassus palms are common.

Deciduous forest. Near Daditokolo there are some patches of deciduous forest close to the lake-shore and fishinghamlets. They are to some extent invaded by Neem Azadirachta indica. The closed canopy is dominated byPterocarpus erinaceus, with several large Adansonia digitata (Baobab) and Ceiba pentandra. Near Dome campsimilar patches occur, also invaded by Neem. Anogeissus and Ceiba pentandra dominate; Holarrhena flori-bunda also occurs, as well as numerous lianes; several trees were still leafless in early March and were notidentified; one had long woody pods split into two halves, like a Funtumia. Elsewhere near Dome valley bottomshave extensive open dry forest dominated by Anogeissus, with also Afzelia africana, Bombax buonopozense,Cola gigantea and the odd clump of evergreen trees (with especially Manilkara multinervis), thus somewhatintermediate between deciduous and semi-evergreen forest.

Baobabs are not common further south, but clumps of Baobabs, perhaps planted, grow outside the bigApapasu forest and may be a relict from an old village.

Semi-evergreen and riparian forest. Near the camps of Hwanyanso and Nsugyanafo in the south-west thereare some remnants of dry semi-evergreen rain forest. These have been damaged by fires over the years, and thecanopy is rather open. Nevertheless the best one, about 3 km from Nsugyanafo, is several km² in extent des-pite the absence of streams. The periphery is dry deciduous forest with mainly Anogeissus, Ceiba and thickChromolaena underneath. Large trees in the small section of wetter forest we visited were Albizia zygia, Antiaristoxicaria, Bombax buonopozense, Celtis wightii, Cola gigantea, Dialium guineense, Milicia excelsa, Ricino-dendron heudelotii, Sterculia spp. (oblonga, tragacantha), Tetrapleura tetraptera. Several of these large treeswere completely leafless (Bombax, Milicia, Ricinodendron). The understorey is evergreen (with many Micro-desmis puberula) and lianes are abundant. Surprisingly some tree species belong to wetter types of forest, suchas Afzelia bella (seen in young flowers) and Pteleopsis hylodendron (fruiting). Smaller fragments of forestvisited near Hwanyanso had the following (per J. Oppong in the absence of FDL): Afzelia africana, Antiaris,Bombax buonopozense, Ceiba, Celtis wightii, Cola gigantea, Ricinodendron. Strips of semi-evergreen riparianforest are dominated by Cynometra megalophylla; Ficus lutea (vogelii) is a strangler.

Near Apapasu rainfall is probably less and this forest type is more regularly encountered along seasonalstreams. Patches vary in extent from a few trees to a few ha. The tall canopy (30 m+) is characterized by Afzeliaafricana, Albizia ferruginea (flowering in March), Anogeissus, Antiaris toxicaria, Berlinia grandiflora, Ceiba,Cola gigantea, Diospyros mespiliformis, Erythrophleum suaveolens, Khaya senegalensis, Manilkara multi-nervis, Milicia excelsa, Ricinodendron, Vitex doniana. Medium-sized trees along streams include Cynometramegalophylla (dominant), Kigelia africana, and elsewhere Celtis wightii, Cola millenii, Dialium guineense,Malacantha alnifolia, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides. A few oil palms Elaeis occur. The commonest small tree


is Napoleonaea vogelii (as in similar dry forest in Kalakpa); other small trees include Aphania senegalensis,Baphia nitida (flowering in March), Clerodendrum sp., Ficus abutilifolia (on a rock), Ficus glumosa, Rauvolfiavomitoria, Rinorea sp., Rubiaceae (Tarenna?), Sorindeia sp.

Several patches of one to several hectares were crossed on the path north of Apesika; they occur inhollows or on dry streams and are also dominated by Berlinia grandiflora, Ceiba, Cola gigantea, C. millenii,Diospyros mespiliformis, Erythrophleum suaveolens, Milicia excelsa, with also Afzelia africana, Anogeissus,Lannea barteri, some Elaeis palms. Riparian forest on the Sumi river has much the same species, with alsoDetarium senegalense, Dialium guineense; Cynometra megalophylla and Pterocarpus santalinoides grow onthe water’s edge. Near Apesika camp the Obosum arm of Lake Volta is lined by thickets a few metres highdominated by Pterocarpus santalinoides.

In March the main fruiting trees in forest were Cola millenii and Manilkara multinervis.

3. THE AVIFAUNA

3.1. Totals recorded

Some 240 species were known from the park after our first visit in January 2005. Another 32 were added onthe 2008 trip, and 25 in 2009, bringing the overall total to 297. Because these three visits coincide with the dryseason or very early rains, we are still missing late rains breeders such as most widows Vidua spp. which re-main unnoticed (or pose identification problems) in non-breeding dress outside the rains. Several of the speciesmissed in 2005 but considered likely to occur have indeed been found (e.g. several raptors including WesternBanded Snake Eagle, Martial Eagle and Bateleur, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Double-toothed Barbet, Fanti Saw-wing, Oriole-Warbler). Some of these are intra-African migrants that must have arrived about February (Grey-headed Kingfisher, Black Cuckoo) or March (Fanti Saw-wing). A few more Palaearctic migrants were noted,passing through in March (European Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Grey Cuckoo, Eurasian Swift, Blue-cheekedBee-eater, Wood Warbler, Eurasian Golden Oriole). A few more forest-associated birds have been identified,i.e. White-crested Tiger Heron, Great Blue Turaco, Spotted Honeyguide, Simple and Swamp Palm Greenbuls,Black-and-white Flycatcher and Superb Sunbird. The most important discovery is that of Black-headed Bee-eater (see below). Woodland birds discovered in 2009 include Yellow Penduline Tit, Emin’s Shrike and Black-faced Firefinch, all near their southern limits of range.

The potential for the park is clearly well over 300 species.

3.2. Biome-restricted species

Sudanian. So far 28 Sudanian endemics have been identified: Poicephalus senegalus, Musophaga violacea,Merops bulocki, Coracias cyanogaster, Lybius dubius, Galerida modesta, Hirundo leucosoma, Cossypha albi-capillus, Myrmecocichla albifrons, Eremomela pusilla, Cisticola rufus, Hypergerus atriceps, Turdoides rein-wardtii, Anthoscopus parvulus, Nectarinia coccinigaster, Lanius gubernator, Corvinella corvina, Lamprotornispurpureus, L. chalcurus, Petronia dentata, Ploceus heuglini, Pytilia hypogrammica, Nesocharis capistrata,Lagonosticta rufopicta, L. rara, L. larvata, Estrilda troglodytes, Vidua togoensis. Some of these (Merops bulocki,Galerida modesta, Myrmecocichla albifrons, Cisticola rufus, Lanius gubernator, Nesocharis capistrata, Lago-nosticta larvata) are birds of the northern savannas that reach their southern limits of distribution in Digya. Thelocal status and distribution of several remain very imprecise, as we did not visit the interior of the park.

Guineo-Congolian. Twenty-nine species have been recorded, all but one (Bycanistes fistulator) in the south andwest only: Tigriornis leucolopha, Accipiter erythropus, Francolinus ahantensis, Tauraco persa, Centropusleucogaster, Merops breweri, Eurystomus gularis, Tropicranus albocristatus, Tockus fasciatus, Bycanistes fis-tulator, Indicator maculatus, Campethera nivosa, Baeopogon indicator, Chlorocichla simplex, Thescelocichlaleucopleura, Pyrrhurus scandens, Phyllastrephus baumanni, P. albigularis, Bleda canicapillus, Nicator chloris,Cossypha cyanocampter, Sylvietta virens, Hylia prasina, Terpsiphone rufiventer, Illadopsis puveli, Phyllanthusatripennis, Nectarinia superba, Nigrita luteifrons, Spermophaga haematina. The latitude of south Digya does


not represent a northern limit for any of these species, given that rainfall increases again in the east and westof the country. Kyabobo N.P. is very much wetter than Digya, thus all of these species but two (the flycatcherTerpsiphone rufiventer and Black-headed Bee-eater Merops breweri) and many more occur in the more ex-tensive forests of that area. The Black-headed Bee-eater is typically a species of the forest/savanna transitionzone. The above list does not include the Black-shouldered form of Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectora-lis nor the Fanti Saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura (cf. Fishpool & Evans 2001) as these species are widespreadin savanna environments and not restricted to the Guineo-Congolian biome. The turaco Corythaeola cristatamaybe added as a Guineo-Congolian near-endemic.

3.3. The biogeographical importance of Digya

Digya is in an interesting biogeographical position, with the south clearly in the forest/savanna transition zone,and the far north more typically Sudanian. Not unexpectedly a number of savanna species reach their southernlimits of distribution in Digya. In addition to the Sudanian endemics already listed above, one can mention theSwamp Flycatcher (we consider the records of this species by Moyer 1995 and Helsens 1996 from Kakum andadjacent Pra-Suhien forest as erroneous), the Black-headed and Red-headed Weavers, the Streaky-headed Seed-eater. Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Golden-tailed and Brown-backed Woodpeckers are unlikely to occur further southor south-west, but they have been found in Kalakpa recently (March 2008) in the south-east. A few Guineo-Congolian forest species are not presently known to occur further north in Ghana west of the Volta, e.g.White-crested Tiger Heron and Blue-shouldered Robin Chat. They are found further north only east of theVolta, at Kyabobo. The large Crowned Eagle, a monkey-eater, is unlikely to occur further north in the country.

The most interesting species discovered in the second survey (2008) is the Black-headed Bee-eater, alocalized species of the forest/savanna transition zone, known to breed mainly in Central Africa. In West Africathere are very few records, in just two countries, Ivory Coast and Ghana. The only record in Ghana dates fromFebruary 1952, when Horwood (1964) found a pair and one bird (which he collected) in riverine forest on theAfram river. As much of the Afram riparian forest has disappeared under Lake Volta, the continued existenceof this species was in doubt. It is conceivable that the bee-eater might still occur on some tributaries of theAfram river today, but none of these is in a protected area. Thus the Digya birds are likely to be the only viablepopulation of this rare bee-eater in Ghana.

3.4. Ecological considerations

Water-dependent or swamp species. A striking feature of largely artificial water bodies such as Lake Voltais the paucity of waterbirds. The aquatic vegetation is relatively simple, and the water often too deep and im-poverished in fish stock to be attractive to many birds. The only numerous waterbird in places is a duck (White-faced Whistling Duck, a grazer) in vegetated creeks close to the shore; herons and egrets, plovers and Palaearcticwaders occur in very small numbers on the sandy patches and low sedge marsh. Fish-eating birds (mainly king-fishers and Ospreys) favour the shallow water along the shores: numbers of the Palaearctic Osprey could bequite high overall. A few Palaearctic warblers Acrocephalus spp. occur in very high densities in the tall grassesfurther inland, as long as fires do not destroy the habitat.

Bovals (Apesika). These laterite formations usually have a layer of thin grass and can cover up to several hec-tares; flat rock slabs with rock pools of rainwater may be present. A handful of species are highly characteristicof this habitat: Senegal Thick-knee, Forbes’s Plover, African Wattled Lapwing (Plover) and Sun Lark. TheThick-knee is also to be found on rocky and sandy banks of streams or the lake-shore, whereas the WattledLapwing will colonize any short, moist grassland (including on the lake-shore). The other two species occurexclusively on bovals.

Woodland and forest. Most of the woodland we crossed near Daditokolo in the far north had been recentlyburnt by a fierce fire, destroying foliage and inflorescences up to the tree crowns. The burnt sections were virtuallydevoid of birds, to be found in high concentrations in small sections of unburnt wooded grassland. The common


Daniellia oliveri flower in the dry season and normally represent a favourite food plant for sunbirds. The paucityin sunbird species in the north (only a few Scarlet-chested Sunbirds were present), is probably related to the un-favourable fire regime.

In the south-west the woodland understorey is more mixed, with many small thickets or shrubs (includingthe dreaded Chromolaena) which hamper the progress of fires: Daniellia is still the most common woodlandtree, and as many as eight sunbird species were recorded in the south, at least four of them feeding on Danielliaflowers. Woodland, transition woodland and degraded open forest all intermingle to attract a rich bird assem-blage. South Digya is clearly part of the forest/woodland transition zone, characterized by high numbers of owls,rollers, babblers, etc. For instance in an area less than 1 km² near Nsugyanafo, four roller species occurredtogether: Rufous-crowned, Blue-bellied and both Eurystomus species. Judging by the displays and noisy ter-ritorial behaviour, they were all breeding.

The woodland explored on the Apesika ridge in the south is not transitional; the soil is thinner and theheight of the trees somewhat reduced. This short woodland with grassy understorey is ideal for some localspecies such as Cabanis’s Bunting and especially Emin’s Shrike, a rare and rather discreet bird of the northernwoodlands.

The forest avifauna includes a number of Guineo-Congolian endemics, some surviving in rather de-graded forest fragments. Dense Chromolaena thickets are not devoid of bird life, despite their exotic origin.They are important for several Palaearctic passerines (e.g. Common Nightingale) but also for several forest-associated species, such as Capuchin Babbler.

Riparian forest is best developed in the south, especially along semi-permanent rivers such as the Sumi.In addition to the Black-headed Bee-eater already mentioned, the assemblage of Guineo-Congolian forest birdsfound here includes some surprises, for instance the White-crested Tiger Heron — which is far more widespreadand adaptable than hitherto supposed. Many of the bird species characteristic of the drier forests of the transitionzone in eastern Ghana (Kalakpa to Kyabobo) are present here, e.g. African Barred Owlet, Leaflove, Baumann’sGreenbul, Puvel’s Illadopsis and Square-tailed Drongo. Spotted Honeyguide (the most widespread forest ho-neyguide in eastern Ghana) is also present, but many other species common in eastern Ghana are apparentlymissing in Digya (e.g. Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga quiscalina, Shrike-Flycatchers Megabyasflammulatus, Red-cheeked Wattle-eyes Dyaphorophyia blissetti and Black-winged Orioles Oriolus nigripen-nis). The rather small size of forest patches left is certainly responsible for the lack of some species, and alsothe overall drier conditions; in addition the climatic conditions may have been influenced by the creation of theVolta Dam. To the south of Digya the transition zone suffered a series of droughts in the 1980s in particular thatled to the destruction by fires (and later abandonment) of all cocoa farms in the Afram plains.

3.5. Breeding records

January 2005. Not many records, as the main breeding activity is expected to start with the first storms in Feb.Several cuckoos and other species were just beginning to call in late January after some exceptionally earlyshowers.

Yellow-billed Kite: adult sitting on nest (in a large Daniellia), Daditokolo, 21-22 Jan.Rufous-crowned (Purple) Roller: several pairs displaying in the south-west, and one at least carrying food to

nest, 30 Jan (eggs laid Dec or Jan, others Jan).Blue-bellied and Blue-throated Roller: pairs chasing Harrier Hawk from nesting tree, stage not known (30 Jan).African Reed Warbler: female netted 24 Jan (Walando) was in pre-laying condition, weighing 14.4g.Green Hylia: adult carrying a feather to nest, 31 Jan (laying expected Feb).Lead-coloured Flycatcher: pair feeding at nest (tree hole in dead trunk), 30 Jan (eggs laid Jan). Violet-backed Sunbird: pair feeding fledgling in a flowering Daniellia, 27 Jan (eggs laid Dec).

March 2008 and 2009.Two cuckoos, silent in Jan, were singing in Mar, Black quite loudly and Red-chested stillvery little, while Levaillant’s Cuckoo was widespread and calling. All this suggests that various small passe-rines (which are parazitized by these cuckoos) were starting, or were about to start, to lay. Hole-nesting king-


fishers were breeding with remarkable synchrony.

Western Banded Snake Eagle: feeding nestling 10 Mar.African Grey Cuckoo: mating calls, 14 Mar and 16 Mar.African Pygmy Kingfisher: several occupied nests (adult brooding), and a pair mating, 7-11 Mar: laying Feb (3)

and Mar (1).Grey-headed Kingfisher: at least 8 occupied nests, with female brooding, 2-11 Mar, and two pairs feeding nest-

lings 14-16 Mar (thus 10 laying Feb).Abyssinian Roller: pair feeding at nest 2-5 Mar (laying probably Jan or Feb).Red-throated Bee-eater: several nests occupied in a bank of the Obosum, 14 Mar.Black-headed Bee-eater: three pairs feeding nestlings (7-16 Mar) and one female still incubating 7-12 Mar

(laying Feb in at least one case, Jan or Feb in the other three, as nestling period very long). Grey Woodpecker: male feeding at nest 4 Mar (laying Jan or Feb).White-shouldered Black Tit: pair feeding at nest 11 Mar (laying Feb).Emin’s Shrike: pair feeding big nestlings, 16 Mar (laying Feb).Northern Puffback: breeding underway in Mar as strong territorial disputes noted, at least one nest-building.Bush Petronia: adult feeding a full-grown fledgling, 2 Mar (laying Jan).

4. ANNOTATED SPECIES LIST

Three species reported by other observers are indicated by an asterisk (*). English names usually follow Borrow& Demey (2001), and scientific nomenclature Dowsett & Forbes-Watson (1993). Abbreviations used: Res. =Resident; AM = intra-African migrant; PM = Palaearctic (Eurasian) migrant.

Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus. Res. A few in Lake Volta and Sene river.White-crested Tiger Heron Tigriornis leucolopha. Res. One flushed three times on the edge of large pools in

the shade of riparian forest on the Sumi river, 16 Mar 2009.Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax. Res./PM? Heard on the Sene river (Dome), both visits;

several immatures roosting in dry forest near Daditokolo, 22-23 Jan 2005. Heard on the Obosum, Mar2009.

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides. PM. Singles in sedges on the N. lake-shore (Dome, Daditokolo), 20-22 Jan2005; several at Dome early Mar 2008 and Apesika (grass swamp) 13 Mar 2009.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis. AM. Common on the lake-shore, north and south, in small flocks. Four near Apa-pasu camp, 8 Mar.

Green-backed Heron Butorides striata. Res. Rare on the lake-shore, common only where there is riparian vege-tation (thickets on the Obosum) and in riparian forest by pools.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta. PM? A few on the lake-shore Jan 2005 (Dome, Daditokolo), grass swamp of theObosum on 13 Mar 2009.

Intermediate (Yellow-billed) Egret Egretta intermedia. Res. A few on the lake-shore Jan and Mar (Dome, Dadi-tokolo).

Great White Egret Egretta alba. PM? Several on the lake-shore near Daditokolo Jan 2005; also Dome (Mar2008).

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea. PM. Widespread in small numbers in aquatic vegetation on the lake-shore; in-cluding Dome and Apesika (Jan and Mar).

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea. PM? Widespread along the N. lake-shore, Jan and Mar.Hamerkop Scopus umbretta. Res. Several around pools in riparian situations in the south and west.Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus. Res. One at Dome (2 Mar) and one near Apapasu forest (10 Mar); likely

to breed in the area.Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash. Res. Very local: several around Walando camp peninsula; in 2008 a few

pairs in the Apapasu area, at pools in forest. Known from the Sumi and Bunda rivers (guards).White-faced Whistling (Tree) Duck Dendrocygna viduata. Res. Very common in shallow water along the N.


lake-shore; in flocks of several dozen up to 200-300 (Walando, 24 Jan). Heard at Apesika (at night).African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus. Res. A group of six in a small lake by the Obosum river (Apesika),

with floating grass, 13 Mar 2009.African Cuckoo Hawk Aviceda cuculoides. Res. Dry forest near Daditokolo (Jan 2005); two including one

singing over mosaic of woodland and dry forest on Apesika ridge, 13 Mar 2009.European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus. PM. One in dry forest near Dome, 3 Mar 2008.Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus. Res. One territorial pair on the shores of the Sene river at Dome (Mar

2008).Yellow-billed Kite Milvus migrans. AM. Widespread Jan and Mar, especially common around the lake-shore

(up to 17 together at Dome, 2 Mar).Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis. Res. Widespread in forest patches, from Dome southwards.Western Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus cinerascens. Res. One pair feeding young in a nest in Apapasu forest,

in a big Ceiba, 10 Mar 2008. Birds in song near Apapasu camp, 7 Mar, and on the Sumi river, 16 Mar.Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus. Res. One near Apapasu camp; common on the Apesika ridge and also repor-

ted by guards from the heart of the park.African Harrier Hawk (Gymnogene) Polyboroides typus. Res. Widespread, often in riparian forest.Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus. PM. Singles (female plumage) hunting along the lake-shore (Dome

and Walando), 21-24 Jan 2005. In Mar 2008 several held a territory in grassland near the Sene river, in-cluding an adult male.

Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus. PM. A male at Dome, 1 Mar 2008.Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates. Res. Rare: one in transition woodland, Hwanyanso.Gabar Goshawk Melierax gabar. Res. Singles in (transition) woodland (Hwanyanso, Apesika).Black Sparrowhawk (Goshawk) Accipiter melanoleucus. Res. Rare: one near Nsugyanafo.Ovambo Sparrowhawk Accipiter ovampensis. Res? One well seen (perched) in woodland near the western boun-

dary (near Sabuso camp), 12 Mar 2008; one at Apesika, 15 Mar.Red-thighed Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus. Res. One in riparian forest near Apapasu camp, causing alarm

in nesting Black-headed Bee-eater, 7 Mar 2008.African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro. Res. Several in the south and west (riparian forest, transition woodland). One

family with two noisy fledged young in a patch of forest east of Apapasu camp, Mar 2008.Shikra Accipiter badius. Res. A woodland species, widespread.Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis. AM. A dry-season visitor, not uncommon in burnt woodland, occa-

sionally coming to the lake-shore to drink (Jan 2005). Still common, in small numbers, 1-12 Mar 2008(max. 10 together on 4 Mar) and 13-15 Mar 2009.

Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus. Res. Common and throughout (any woodland and riparian).Red-necked Buzzard Buteo auguralis. AM. Widespread from Dome to the south.Wahlberg’s Eagle Aquila wahlbergi. AM. One (pale phase plumage) near Apapasu, 9 Mar 2008; one on 16 Mar

2009 near the Sumi river.African Hawk Eagle Hieraaetus spilogaster. Res. One over woodland between the Obosum and Sumi rivers,

16 Mar 2009.Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis. Res. One hunting from dead trees by the Sene arm at Dome, 20 Jan

2005 and Mar 2008; one near Apesika camp, Mar 2009.Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus. Res. An immature near Dome, 4 Mar 2008.Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus. Res. One seen on the edge of forest near Nsugyanafo (31 Jan 2005).Osprey Pandion haliaetus. PM. A few fishing in the Lake (north), 20-24 Jan 2005. Appears widespread and the

area could hold quite an important population (more than 20 birds ringed in Sweden have been recoveredin Lake Volta).

Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus. Res. A few north, south and west (woodland or riparian forest).Eleanora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae. PM. One in black phase was at Daditokolo on 22-23 Jan 2005 (RJD). First

record in Ghana of a rare Palaearctic migrant, recently shown by satellite telemetry to cross the continentfurther west than hitherto supposed (Gschweng et al. 2008).

African Hobby Falco cuvierii. Res. In moist woodland (Walando in the north, Nsugyanafo in the south) or


edge of riparian forest (Obosum).Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus. Res. One at Dome, 4 Mar 2008.White-throated Francolin Francolinus albogularis. Res. A woodland species, singing on 21 Jan (Dome); quite

vocal in the south after early storms (e.g. 29 Jan). Silent and unrecorded in Mar 2008 (when conditionswere perhaps drier, except from 11 Mar). First song in 2009 heard on 16 Mar, Apesika ridge.

Double-spurred Francolin Francolinus bicalcaratus. Res. Common, any woodland/savanna.Ahanta Francolin Francolinus ahantensis. Res. Common in farmbush, Chromolaena and forest remnants in

the south and west (Apapasu). Calls mostly at night or after rain.Stone Partridge Ptilopachus petrosus. Res. Widespread, woodland and dry forest.Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani. Res. This forest species survives in patches of forest in the south-west:

distinctive feathers seen near Hwanyanso. Known from Apapasu forest (guards).Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris. Res. North: few in woodland (Daditokolo), flock of 12 at Walando.

Not recorded on the SW boundary, but should be less rare in the interior. Small numbers in the Apapasuregion, even near Dome. All guards’ camps have the domestic form.

African Crake Crecopsis egregia. AM. One seen in aquatic vegetation and on muddy shore of Sene river, Dome,2-3 Mar 2008.

Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra. Res. In aquatic vegetation on the Sene and Obosum arms.African Finfoot Podica senegalensis. Res. Seen along the forested Obosum river near Apesika, in tangles of

Pterocarpus santalinoides.Denham’s Bustard Neotis denhami. AM. One flying along lake-shore at Daditokolo, 22 Jan. A dry-season visitor

in burnt wooded grassland. Reported from the Apesika ridge by guards.Black-bellied Bustard Eupodotis melanogaster (*). Res. A rare woodland species, reported by guards, especially

from the Apesika ridge.African Jacana Actophilornis africanus. Res. Common and widespread on the lake-shore, including the Sene

and Obosum rivers.Senegal Thick-knee (Dikkop) Burhinus senegalensis. Res? A few pairs on sandy patches on the lake-shore

(Daditokolo-Walando); also at Dome (Mar). Widespread on bovals and on rocky streams on the Apesikaridge.

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola. Res./AM. One flying along lake-shore near Daditokolo, 23 Jan. Localstatus unknown (requires undisturbed sand beaches to breed).

Forbes’s Plover Charadrius forbesi. Res. A pair alarm-calling in a section of a large boval, Apesika ridge, 13Mar 2009. A pair on a small boval near the Sumi river, 16 Mar. A plover calling (but not seen) at Dadi-tokolo near the lake-shore on 22 Jan 2005 was almost certainly this species.

African Wattled Lapwing (Plover) Vanellus senegallus. Res. Local in the north: a pair on the lake-shore (nearDaditokolo). Small numbers at Dome 1-5 Mar 2008. One pair just arrived in fresh green grass near stream,Apapasu forest, 11 Mar (was not there on 10 Mar); common on bovals on the Apesika ridge, 12-16 Mar2009.

Spur-winged Lapwing (Plover) Vanellus spinosus. Res? A few pairs on the N. lake-shore and Dome.Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago. PM. One in sedges, lake-shore at Walando, 24 Jan 2005.Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia. PM. A few on the N. lake-shore, Jan 2005.Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus. PM. A few on the N. lake-shore, Jan and Mar (including Dome).Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola. PM. Widespread on the N. lake-shore, Jan 2005.Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos. PM. The commonest wader on the lake-shore, occasionally resting on

logs anywhere in the Lake; Sene and Obosum rivers.Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis. Res. Common around small settlements.Vinaceous Dove Streptopelia vinacea. Res./AM. Common in the north (woodland), smaller numbers in the

south (Mar).Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata. Res. Common in riparian situations, and in any dry forest, throughout.Black-billed Wood Dove Turtur abyssinicus. Res. Common in woodland in the north and west (Apapasu); not

encountered in the south.Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer. Res. Local in the north (dry forest near Daditokolo, moist woodland on


Walando peninsula, dry forest at Dome); common in the south and west (transition woodland and forest).Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria. Res. South only: in forest remnant near Nsugyanafo. African Green Pigeon Treron calvus. Res. Few in the north (e.g. Walando, on figs); more common in the south. Brown-necked Parrot Poicephalus robustus. Res? Jan 2005: small flocks at Daditokolo (of 7 and 3 birds), once

feeding in Afzelia africana (seeding); transition woodland near Hwanyanso. A pair at Apesika 12-14 Mar2009. Known from Dome (guards).

Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus. Res. Common, throughout. Some feeding on seeds of the forest treePteleopsis hylodendron.

Red-headed Lovebird Agapornis pullarius. Res. One pair in a Ficus sur (Dome) and another visiting frequentlya fruiting Lannea acida at Apapasu camp; one pair feeding on buds of Anogeissus, Apesika.

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri. Res. Uncommon, few in the region of Dome and Apapasu, woodlandor dry forest.

Green Turaco Tauraco persa. Res. Not found on the northern lake-shore (Daditokolo to Walando), but presentlocally in dry forest near Dome. Common in the south and west (woodland and especially forest).

Violet Turaco Musophaga violacea. Res. Local in the north-east (Walando), common in the north-west (Dome),and west and south where may be competing with Green Turacos. Often (but not strictly) in riparianformations. Near Apapasu seems to be outnumbered by Green Turacos.

Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata. Res? A single bird wandering silently in dry, open forest near Apapasucamp, 8 Mar 2008.

Western Grey Plantain-eater Crinifer piscator. Res. Common near the lake-shore, or in farmbush and woodlandin the south. Rare at Apapasu (mainly near park’s boundary).

Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius. AM. One individual on the lake-shore at Walando, 24 Jan 2005. Levaillant’s (Striped) Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii. AM. One singing on 30 Jan (after early rain) at Nsugya-

nafo is perhaps an early arrival. By early Mar has become widespread, a few singing in the Dome andApapasu area, sometimes at night. Very active by mid-Mar in the Apesika region.

Thick-billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti. Res. The most conspicuous and noisy cuckoo in the south, Jan-Mar, calling perched or in flight (transition woodland, forest, farmbush). Encountered more locally furthernorth, near Apapasu forest. Found on the Sene river, but extralimitally (Seneso).

Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius. AM. A silent bird at Daditokolo on 22 Jan 2005 is early. In Mar 2008and 2009 several singing sporadically in riparian forest in the west and south. Also heard extralimitallyon the Sene river, and imitated at Dome in the song of Snowy-crowned Robin Chat.

Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus. AM. No records for Jan, but in Mar 2008 a few singing in riparian forest inthe Apapasu area (from the 8th) and Apesika; heard extralimitally on the Sene river, and imitated in thesong of a Snowy-crowned Robin Chat at Dome itself (and Apapasu).

Common (Eurasian Grey) Cuckoo Cuculus canorus. PM. Several identified in woodland in the Apapasu area,11-12 Mar 2008, and near Apesika on 13-14 Mar 2009 (including a rufous female).

African (Grey) Cuckoo Cuculus gularis. AM. One seen at Daditokolo on 22 Jan; some singing in the south-westfrom the 29th (after storms). Probably all early arrivals. Very noisy in Mar (Dome, Apapasu, Apesika),throughout woodland.

Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas. Res. Mainly in riparian forest and other dry forest types. Widespread fromDome south and south-east.

Didric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius. AM. No records in Jan, one singing at Dome early Mar 2008 and on theObosum mid-Mar 2009.

Yellowbill (Green Coucal) Ceuthmochares aereus. Res. Widespread in the south and west, in riparian and otherforest with tangles, even in transition woodland with thickets. More local in the Dome area.

Black-throated Coucal Centropus leucogaster. Res. A discreet species, located by its vocalisations: severalin the riparian forests of the south and west (Apapasu).

Blue-naped Coucal Centropus monachus. Res. Confined to grass marsh on the lake-shore (near Daditokolo),and on the Sene river (Dome).

Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis. Res. Common throughout.Barn Owl Tyto alba. Res. Heard at Hwanyanso, Dome and Apesika camps; also bovals.


African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis. Res. Widespread in the woodlands of the park, although none heard inthe north-east in Jan 2005, when the woodland was badly burnt.

White-faced Owl Otus (Ptilopsis) leucotis. Res. Several heard in transition woodland in the south, west, and eco-tone of dry forest and woodland at Dome; thickets edge of bovals (Apesika).

Spotted (Greyish) Eagle Owl Bubo africanus cinerascens. Res. Some heard in the south (including bovals atApesika) and near Dome.

Verreaux’s (Giant) Eagle Owl Bubo lacteus. Res. One pair flushed from dry forest near Daditokolo, and anotherfrom similar habitat (Baobab, Ceiba, Pterocarpus erinaceus) c. 3 km south-west of Daditokolo. Alsoknown from dry forest near Dome (guards).

Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum. Res. Heard and seen in tall woodland and dry Baobab forest nearDaditokolo. Heard by day in dry Anogeissus forest near Dome.

African Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense. Res. One calling in transition Daniellia oliveriwoodland near Hwa-nyanso, provoked by tape playback, 28 Jan. One gave one song at 21h in riparian forest near Apapasucamp (7 Mar); not heard on other nights.

African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii. Res. Heard in riparian or dry forest at all camps in the south, and near Apa-pasu. Known from Dome (guards). Appears much less vocal in Mar than Jan.

Fiery-necked (Black-shouldered) Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis nigriscapularis. Res. Heard in transitionDaniellia woodland around both camps in the south, late Jan. Singing commonly at edges of riparianforest in the Apapasu and Apesika area, Mar.

Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus climacurus. Res. Very widespread: several flushed by day from dry forestnear Daditokolo in Jan; several heard throughout (woodland, lake-shore, bovals), Jan and Mar.

Standard-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx longipennis. AM. One male on a boval near Apesika, 14 Mar. Alsoknown to guards, including at Dome.

Mottled Spinetail Telacanthura ussheri. Res. Highly localized species: one seen in woodland near Hwanyanso.Partial to hollow Baobabs (where it may nest).

African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus. Res. Widespread; nests on Borassus palms.Common (Eurasian) Swift Apus apus. PM. Some passing through on 3 Mar (near Dome). No Jan records.Narina’s Trogon Apaloderma narina. Res. One seen in tall riparian forest on the Sumi river, 16 Mar 2009. Silent

and probably overlooked at this time of year.Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata. Res. Feeds in shallow water on the edge of the Lake, Sene and Obosum

rivers; also at pools in stream (south), including inside forest on the Sumi river.Shining-blue Kingfisher Alcedo quadribrachys. Res. Present along the forested Obosum river upstream of Ape-

sika.African Pygmy Kingfisher Ceyx pictus. AM/Res. In Jan 2005 none in the north but several in thickets and forest

in the south, where some may be resident. More widespread in Mar (Dome, Apapasu, Apesika).Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala. AM. No Jan records, but very common in early and mid-March,

when breeding in sandbanks throughout the area visited (e.g. along the Sene river, banks of streams inthe west and south). Already at the incubation stage by early Mar, so must have arrived in Feb.

Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica. Res. Common in riparian and other forest in the south, west andDome area.

Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis. Res./AM. A few perched on the edge of the Sene river, Dome,Jan and Mar. A silent bird edge of dry forest near Apesika, 15 Mar. Local status uncertain.

Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti. Res. Widespread, in any woodland.Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima. Res. Local on the N. lake-shore. Pairs on the Sene (Dome), Obosum

(Apesika) and Sumi rivers.Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis. Res. Several pairs or small groups along the N. lake-shore all the way to Dome,

and on the Obosum.Black-headed Bee-eater Merops breweri. Res. A rare bee-eater of the forest/savanna transition zone, discovered

breeding in the Apapasu area, 7-12 Mar 2008. One pair on the Kwatyeasuwa stream (west of Apapasucamp), feeding nestlings; another pair on the next stream (east of Apapasu camp), where the female wasstill brooding; a third pair on the Apapa stream to the north, also feeding nestlings. The two nests seen


closely were dug in dry sand on the sloping bank of dry streams, about 60 cm or 1 m above the level ofthe streambed. On 16 Mar 2009 a pair was discovered feeding nestlings on a sloping bank of the Sumiriver, inside forest (nest diameter 7.5 cm). Although described as mainly silent (Borrow & Demey2001) birds call fairly frequently in situations of danger (e.g. Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, CusimanseMongooses Crossarchus obscurus) or to keep in touch with each other. Feed at different levels in ripa-rian forest. The pair located on the Sumi stream collected food at least 900 m away from the nest.

Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus. Res. Rare: one in grass by the lake at Walando (Jan); one near Dome in wood-land and one near Sabuso camp (Mar).

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus. Res. Several in tall transition woodland in the south, Jan 2005;one in woodland Mar 2009 just south of Apesika.

Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki. Res. A small colony of holes was occupied by several pairs (alarm-calling) in a tall sand cliff c. 20 m long on the Obosum river, close to the confluence with the Bunda, 14Mar 2009.

White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis. AM. A dry-season visitor (breeding in the Sahel), at forest edgesand farmbush in the south, dry forest and transition woodland near Dome and Apapasu; no records fromApesika.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus. AM? Three and one birds flying north-east over Apesika, 13 Mar2009. A rare migrant in Ghana, probably from the Sahel.

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster. PM. Winters in the south (several small flocks Jan 2005). Some flyingnorth over Apapasu, 10 Mar 2008. Sustained passage north 12-17 Mar 2009.

Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus. AM. A dry-season visitor, in open woodland: common in the north,more local in the south (Jan). A pair occupying a nest in a dead tree on the Sene river, 2-5 Mar 2008. Notseen around Apapasu nor Apesika mid-Mar.

Rufous-crowned (Purple) Roller Coracias naevius. Res. Seen mainly in the south, more common than lastspecies there, and evidently breeding in Jan. A pair alarm-calling in woodland, Apapasu, 8 Mar, two pairson the Apesika ridge.

Blue-bellied Roller Coracias cyanogaster. Res. Quite common in any woodland in the north (right next to thelake-shore) and south-west, rarer near Apesika; often coming to bush fires in Jan. Chasing a HarrierHawk from nesting tree 30 Jan.

Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus. AM/Res. Local in the north (Walando, Jan) where possibly morecommon in the rains, as around Dome in Mar. Common in the west and south, usually associated withriparian forest, but also in transition woodland.

Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis. Res. A forest species, found near Nsugyanafo in a patch of degraded,open (partly burnt) forest near the boundary, Jan 2005. Identified from its distinctive voice (screams) as itwas chasing a Harrier Hawk, in company with a Blue-bellied Roller!

Green (Red-billed) Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus. Res. Widespread, in any woodland, also dry Baobabforest (north).

Black Wood Hoopoe (Scimitarbill) Rhinopomastus aterrimus. Res. Local in transition woodland in the south,but more common in ridge woodland near Apesika; in dry forest or transition woodland near Dome andApapasu.

White-crested Hornbill Tropicranus albocristatus (*). Res. A convincing description of this forest species wasgiven by guards for the Sumi stream in the south.

African Pied Hornbill Tockus fasciatus. Res. Small numbers in riparian and remnants of rain forest in the southand west (Apapasu).

African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus. AM. Common in any woodland, throughout.Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator. Res. A few in woodland in the north; more common in the south and

west, any habitat.Abyssinian Ground Hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus (*). Res. Known to guards from the interior.Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus. Res. Common, in any woodland.Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus. Res. In riparian and remnants of rain forest in the south; ri-

parian forest in the Apapasu region. Singing very little end of Jan, more regularly in Mar. May visit


fruiting trees (Lannea acida) in woodland.Vieillot’s Barbet Lybius vieilloti. Res. Local in the north (dry forest near Daditokolo); common in any wood-

land and dry forest from Dome south.Double-toothed Barbet Lybius bidentatus. Res. A pair and an immature coming to feed in a Ficus sur, near

Dome, 5 Mar 2008.Bearded Barbet Lybius dubius. Res. Singles or pairs seen at Walando, Dome and Apesika ridge; the pair at

Dome on 2 Mar 2008 was only a short distance from the closely-related Double-toothed Barbet. Spotted Honeyguide Indicator maculatus. Res. One in a patch of dry forest 5.5 km north of Apesika, 15 Mar

2009.Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator. Res. Uncommon, in transition woodland near Hwanyanso, singing

little late Jan 2005. More active in Mar 2008 and 2009, near Dome, Apapasu and Apesika.Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor. Res. In riparian and other forest in the south; one in song on 30 Jan (Nsu-

gyanafo). A few singing in Mar near Dome, Apapasu and Apesika, one as early as 8h30 and another at8h20 (dawn being at 6h00), 4 Mar. Curiously one seen chasing an African Thrush.

Fine-spotted Woodpecker Campethera punctuligera. Res. Local, in tall woodland (north and south).Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni. Res. Very common in dry forest, transition woodland and

riparian forest, from Dome (where the commonest woodpecker) to Apapasu and Apesika.Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa. Res. In a patch of rain forest near Nsugyanafo, and in dense

understorey of dry forest north of Apesika.Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens. Res. Overall local: a pair in moist woodland at Walando, a few

in dry forest or transition woodland near Dome and Apapasu, and rather common in the Apesika area.Grey Woodpecker Mesopicos goertae. Res. Small numbers in woodland, riparian or dry forest remnants, through-

out. Brown-backed Woodpecker Picoides obsoletus. Res. Uncommon in woodland, north and south.African Broadbill Smithornis capensis. Res. This species is easily overlooked in the dry season, as it displays

only in the rains. But a nest clearly belonging to an African Broadbill was found in the streambed of theKwatyeasuwa, just west of Apapasu camp. It was hanging from a branch in a tangle of twiglets at a heightof 1.8 m and was still in good condition, having been used most probably in the previous rains (2007).

Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea. Res. In late Jan 2005 heard only near Nsugyanafo (after early storm),and briefly near Dome and Sabuso in Mar. Possibly more widespread, as it displays mainly in the rains.

Sun Lark Galerida modesta. Res. One on a small rocky beach near Daditokolo, 22-23 Jan. Widespread on thegrassy bovals of the south (Apesika ridge), in pairs and singing (Mar).

Fanti Saw-wing Psalidoprocne obscura. AM. No records in Jan, but a few (singles or pairs) settling aroundriparian forest in the Apapasu area from 6 Mar. One on the Obosum river 16 Mar 2009.

Common (Eurasian) Sand Martin Riparia riparia. PM. Flocks flying over the Lake in the evening, going to roost(Daditokolo), 22 Jan 2005.

Rufous-chested Swallow Hirundo semirufa. Res? One at Walando peninsula, 24 Jan 2005, over grassland. Afew pairs around the Obosum river, Apesika, Mar 2009.

Mosque Swallow Hirundo senegalensis. Res. A group of four perched on dead trees (with holes) in the Lake,west of Daditokolo (Jan 2005), and a group on the Sene at Dome, 2 Mar 2008.

Preuss’s Cliff Swallow Hirundo preussi. AM. Flocks flying low over the Lake (with other swallows) in theevening, going to roost (Daditokolo), Jan 2005; dozens flying over the Dome area, 4 Mar, and over Apa-pasu, 8 Mar 2008.

Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii. Res. Rare: a pair on the Sene river at Dome (2005).Pied-winged Swallow Hirundo leucosoma. Res. Three came to drink in the Obosum river (west of Apesika),

14 Mar 2009.Barn (Eurasian) Swallow Hirundo rustica. PM. Some very large flocks going to roost along the N. lake-shore,

and thousands roosting in tall grass near Walando, Jan 2005. Some passing through Dome, Apapasu andApesika, Mar.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava. PM. A few on moist sand by the Lake (Dome to Daditokolo), Jan 2005.African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp. Res. Highly local: on rocks and rocky lake-shore about half-way


between Daditokolo and Walando, Jan 2005.Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis. PM. A few in woodland (partial to burnt areas), Jan. Quite common in Mar.Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus. Res. Uncommon, in short moist grass on the N. lake-shore

(Dome and near Daditokolo), Jan 2005. One pair on a boval near Apesika, Mar 2009.Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike Campephaga phoenicea. AM. The odd pair in farmbush and riparian forest,

Hwanyanso, 27-28 Jan. Found further north in early Mar 2008, but still uncommon (Dome, Apapasu).More common by mid-Mar 2009 in the Apesika region, with several displaying in dry forest.

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina pectoralis. Res. Several in tall woodland (south) and Anogeissus forest(Dome).

Little Greenbul Andropadus virens. Res. In the south only, mainly in riparian forest, also remnant of rain forestnear Nsugyanafo and riparian thickets on the Obosum at Apesika.

Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator. Res. In the south only, mainly in riparian forest, also remnantof rain forest near Nsugyanafo.

Simple Leaflove Chlorocichla simplex. Res. Very discreet as hardly calling in the dry season: a couple of records,in moist thicket near Dome, and riparian thickets near Apapasu, Mar 2008. Common in thickets near theObosum (Apesika).

Yellow-throated Leaflove Chlorocichla flavicollis. Res. Common in riparian thickets (Pterocarpus santali-noides) on the Obosum river at Apesika.

Swamp Palm Bulbul Thescelocichla leucopleura. Res. Found only in rich riparian forest on the Sumi river, 16Mar 2009.

Leaflove Pyrrhurus scandens. Res. In the south widespread in rich transition woodland and riparian and otherforest patches. In the Apapasu area more strictly confined to forest, but present in every large patch (of1 ha or more).

Baumann’s Greenbul Phyllastrephus baumanni. Res. Found locally in thick Chromolaena at forest edge near Nsu-gyanafo and Hwanyanso. Almost silent in Jan but singing regularly mid-Mar in the Apesika region (Sumiriparian forest, thickets on the Obosum).

White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis. Res. Several calling in leafy understorey of forest remnantnear Nsugyanafo.

Grey-capped Bristlebill Bleda canicapillus. Res. In remnant of rain forest near Nsugyanafo; widespread in ripa-rian forest in the Apapasu and Apesika area.

Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus. Res. Common throughout.Western Nicator Nicator chloris. Res. In riparian forest near Nsugyanafo, and locally near Apapasu.(West) African Thrush Turdus pelios. Res. Fairly common, any woodland or dry forest.Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos. PM. Jan 2005: fairly common species wintering in the south and

Daditokolo, in small thickets (farmbush, woodland), usually Chromolaena odorata. Located by its calls;sings occasionally. No records in Mar.

Blue-shouldered Robin Chat Cossypha cyanocampter. Res. One singing briefly but loudly in thicket on theedge of riparian, Nsugyanafo, Jan 2005.

Snowy-crowned Robin Chat Cossypha niveicapilla. Res? One in subsong in small Chromolaena thicket,edge of Walando camp, Jan 2005. More widespread in the west and south, in riparian or dry forest,thickets in woodland and farmbush.

White-crowned Robin Chat Cossypha albicapillus. Res. Several pairs in dry Baobab-Ceiba-Pterocarpus forestnear Daditokolo; common in dry but dense forest near Dome. Rare in the west (Apapasu) and south (ripa-rian near Nsugyanafo), except in the Apesika region where present in any large patch.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetra. PM. Several in grassland on the lake-shore or in burnt woodland (north); uncom-mon in open woodland (south), Jan 2005. Fairly widespread in open woodland, Dome and Apapasu, Mar2008, some evidently on passage (11 Mar) as also near Apesika (12-16 Mar).

White-fronted Black Chat Myrmecocichla albifrons. Res. One pair in very open woodland on the park’s boun-dary, near Hwanyanso, and a few pairs in woodland on the Apesika ridge and on the way to the Sumi river.

African Moustached Warbler Melocichla mentalis. Res. Common in rank grass (lake-shore, farmbush, ripariansituations), throughout.


Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. PM. Common in wet grass and sedges all along the lake-shore. Fif-teen ringed at Walando 24-25 Jan 2005 had completed moult. Singing actively. Also present on the Seneriver, 2-5 Mar 2008, and Obosum river 12-15 Mar 2009.

Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus s. scirpaceus. PM. Locally numerous in rank grass on the lake-shore,especially in Hyparrhenia: 18 ringed at Walando 24-25 Jan 2005 had completed moult. Singing actively.A few in rank growth (including Chromolaena) or thickets near Dome and Apapasu, 4-11 Mar 2008, andon the Obosum 12-15 Mar 2009.

African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus baeticatus. Res. Quite common in rank grass on the lake-shore,but less numerous than European race. Seen side by side. Five ringed at Walando 24-25 Jan 2005 werein fresh plumage, one (female) apparently fattening as if to lay (weighing 14.4 g) had not yet developeda brood patch. The main difference between the two races is in the warmer colour of the smaller baeti-catus.

Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus. PM. Several in tall Hyparrhenia grass on the lake-shore atWalando (two ringed 24-25 Jan, in fresh plumage). Also in rank grass near the Sene river, and in thicketaway from water, 2-5 Mar 2008; one calling on the Obosum in thicket 14 Mar 2009.

Western Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais (pallida) opaca. PM. One in Mango and palm (Elaeis) trees at Walandocamp, in song (24-25 Jan 2005).

Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta. PM. Common and singing in Jan and Mar, in the canopy of dry forest(e.g. near Daditokolo, Dome), in transition woodland, and also farmbush (in the south) and riparianthicket (Obosum).

Green-backed (Senegal) Eremomela Eremomela pusilla. Res. Very common in any woodland, even in veryrecently burnt woodland in the north (practically the only passerine in this habitat in Jan 2005, Dadito-kolo).

Green Crombec Sylvietta virens. Res. Mainly in the south: riparian and other forest remnants, farmbush on theboundary. Very locally near Dome, in thickets in a moist valley.

Northern Crombec Sylvietta brachyura. Res. Widespread in woodland, transition woodland, small thickets infarmbush. Seen almost next to congener (in farmbush, Hwanyanso).

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus. PM. In Jan 2005 quite common in the north (woodland, dry forest,shrubs on the lake-shore); perhaps more local in the south (Hwanyanso). Ten ringed at Walando, 24-25 Jan2005, in active wing moult. In Mar 2008 and 2009 common throughout and often in song.

Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita. PM. In Jan 2005 quite common in the north and south (woodland, dry forest).Only one sighting on 4 Mar 2008, of three at Dome edge of dry forest, as this species leaves early forEurope.

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix. PM. No records in Jan (when it winters in the forest zone), but a few(singing) passing through the Apapasu area, 8-12 Mar 2008, and Apesika ridge 13-16 Mar 2009.

Yellow-bellied Hyliota Hyliota flavigaster. Res. Pairs or family parties in transition woodland (Anogeissus)near Nsugyanafo, and Daniellia woodland near Apapasu, Apesika and Bunaso.

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin. PM. One singing in riparian thicket on the Obosum river, 14 Mar 2009.Green Hylia Hylia prasina. Res. Found in remnant of rain forest near Nsugyanafo, including one nest-building

31 Jan 2005, and in forest on the Obosum and Sumi rivers.Black-backed Cisticola Cisticola eximius. Res. Heard singing in sedges and wet grass on the edge of the Lake

near Daditokolo (Jan 2005). Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis. Res. In wet grass on the edge of the Sene river at Dome, on both visits.Rufous Cisticola Cisticola rufus. Res. Several in woodland in the north (near Daditokolo), in patches of unburnt

grass.Short-winged Cisticola Cisticola brachypterus. Res. Locally common, in open woodland, on the lake-shore, in

transition woodland and farmbush in the south.Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis. Res. Common in (transition) woodland and farmbush in the south (singing

late Jan after early storm). Also common in the Apapasu area, starting to sing in Mar (from 9th); not yetsinging in the Dome area 1-5 Mar, where may be more local.

Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops. Res. Common in tall grass on the lake-shore; also in moist farmbush


(south), edge of riparian forest, and even transition woodland in the Apapasu area away from streams.Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans. Res. Local in woodland in the north, locally common near Dome and in

the Apapasu and Apesika areas.Winding Cisticola Cisticola galactotes. Res. Several in sedges and moist grass on the lake-shore at Walando.

Not singing in Jan and probably widespread in aquatic vegetation.Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava. Res. Common, grass and shrubs anywhere.Red-winged Warbler Heliolais erythropterus. Res. Fairly common in tall (unburnt) grass in woodland, inclu-

ding transition woodland in the west and south.Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida. Res. Common in dry Baobab-Ceiba-Pterocarpus forest near Dadito-

kolo and dry forest near Dome (Ceiba-Anogeissus), even where invaded by Neem. Also in moist wood-land (and even Mango trees) on the Walando peninsula. Generally very common in riparian forest in theApapasu and Apesika area, including on the Sumi river. Appears absent from wetter forest around Nsu-gyanafo.

Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura. Res. Common, any thickets in woodland, forest and farm-bush.

Oriole-Warbler Hypergerus atriceps. Res. Locally common in dry forest near Dome and generally common inriparian forest in the Apapasu and Apesika areas (including the Sumi river), but seems absent from wet-ter forest around Nsugyanafo.

Pale (Pallid) Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus. Res. Local in transition woodland near Nsugyanafo and in wood-land near Dome; more common in short woodland on the Apesika ridge.

Northern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides. Res. Fairly widespread in riparian or transition woodland,Anogeissus forest and other open dry forest (Apapasu, Apesika). One singing in Dome camp frequentlyimitated the whistles of White-faced Duck in its song, a motif also encountered in birds to the north (onthe Daka river near Yendi).

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. PM. A common wintering species, in any woodland or edges of dry forest,Jan and Mar.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata. PM. Widespread but uncommon wintering species (woodland), Jan andMar.

Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens. Res. Rare: one in tall transition woodland on the boundary, Hwa-nyanso.

Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatica. Res. In thickets (some singing) on the edge of water on the Obosumriver up-stream from Apesika, and also near its confluence with the Bunda river, Mar 2009.

Lead-coloured Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus. Res. Quite common in the south and west (including Dome),in transition woodland, riparian forest, Anogeissus and other open, dry forest.

Senegal Batis Batis senegalensis. Res. Widespread, in any woodland.Common Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea. Res. Widespread: in riparian woodland (as on the N. lake-shore, even

Mango trees in camps), riparian or any forest patches where common.African Blue Flycatcher Elminia longicauda. Res. Local in the north-east (riparian woodland on the Walando

peninsula) but common in riparian forest or dry forest in the west (Dome, Apapasu) and south (Ape-sika), although absent from wetter forest in the south as around Nsugyanafo.

African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis. Res./AM. Very widespread, any woodland (with some thickets)and all forest types, Jan and Mar.

Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone rufiventer. Res. In the south widespread alongside congener inriparian and other forest, also in transition woodland. Certainly competing, and a possible hybrid seennear Hwanyanso (RJD). In the Apapasu area more strictly confined to riparian forest.

Black-and-white Flycatcher Bias musicus. Res. One pair calling in tall Anogeissus-Ceiba dry forest north ofApesika, 13 Mar 2009.

Puvel’s Illadopsis Illadopsis puveli. Res. Several heard and seen in riparian forest in the Nsugyanafo area (wheretape-recorded), and on the Sumi river as well as the Obosum river near Bunaso.

Brown Babbler Turdoides plebejus. Res. In the north and west, in woodland with small thickets or Chromolaena;in the south only on the Apesika ridge.


Blackcap Babbler Turdoides reinwardtii. Res. In the north common in dry Baobab-Ceiba-Pterocarpus forest(Daditokolo), also locally in woodland with thickets near the lake. Generally common in dry or riparianforest near Dome, Apapasu and Apesika, more local near Hwanyanso.

Capuchin Babbler Phyllanthus atripennis. Res. In the south only: a party in dense thickets in riparian forest(Nsugyanafo); more surprisingly in an extensive area of impenetrable Chromolaena in transition wood-land on the boundary at Hwanyanso. These birds (at least 5) were heard then called up; the dominantcanopy tree there was Daniellia oliveri.

White-shouldered Black Tit Parus leucomelas guineensis. Res. Widespread: any woodland and farmbush.Yellow Penduline Tit Anthoscopus parvulus. Res. One in woodland just north of Bunaso, 17 Mar 2009.Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes longuemarei. Res. In Daniellia woodland at Hwanyanso, pair feeding a fled-

gling.Collared Sunbird Anthreptes collaris. Res. Widespread in riparian and other forest types in the south and west

(Apapasu), also farmbush (southern boundary) and moist riparian thickets near Dome.Olive Sunbird Nectarinia olivacea. Res. South only: in riparian forest in the Nsugyanafo area and on the Sumi

river.Green-headed Sunbird Nectarinia verticalis. Res. Widespread in the south and west (including Dome), in riparian

forest and also in farmbush on the southern boundary.Scarlet-chested Sunbird Nectarinia senegalensis. AM? In Jan the most widespread sunbird in the park, practi-

cally the only one in the north, and common in the south (woodland, farmbush). But no records in Mar2008, and only a few in dry woodland between the Obosum and Sumi rivers, 16 Mar 2009.

Olive-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia chloropygia. Res. Mainly in the south, as in riparian thickets (Obosum and Sumirivers), forest patches in hollows, or farmbush on the southern boundary; also in riparian thickets nearApapasu.

Copper (Coppery) Sunbird Nectarinia cuprea. Res. Widespread in woodland (except in the north-east), and locallythe commonest species (Dome).

Splendid Sunbird Nectarinia coccinigaster. Res. Widespread in the south (farmbush, forest) and west (transi-tion woodland, forest), including Dome.

Superb Sunbird Nectarinia superba. Res. One feeding on flowers of Albizia ferruginea, Apapasu.Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis. Res. Widespread: woodland (including transition woodland), riparian

and dry forest, farmbush.Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus. PM. A male in open forest near Apapasu on 8 Mar 2008.African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus. Res. Widespread in small numbers (woodland and forest).Emin’s Shrike Lanius gubernator. Res. One pair in short woodland between the Obosum and Sumi rivers, feeding

nestlings on 16 Mar 2009. The nest was situated at a height of 3 m in a spindly, 5-m tall Terminalia,against the trunk in a hollow stump and was thus inconspicuous. Although we were standing quite close,the adults fed actively without paying any attention to us, and flew straight past us, coming back with(usually) bush crickets picked from the ground. They fed the chicks independently or, when meeting atthe nest, the male passed the food to the female who then fed the chicks. The latter were fairly large andwe could see them (at least two) preening.

Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvina. Res. Rather local, in open woodland near Dome, Hwanyanso and near Bu-naso.

Brubru Nilaus afer. Res. Widespread, any woodland, open dry forest (Afzelia, Anogeissus).Northern Puffback Dryoscopus gambensis. Res. Widespread, particularly common in forest and thickets.Marsh Tchagra Tchagra minutus. Res. At Dome seen in rank wet grass on the lake-shore but also in moist rank

growth in a valley; elsewhere (Apapasu and Apesika) in low riparian thickets, or Chromolaena withsome shrubs.

Brown-crowned (Brown-headed) Tchagra Tchagra australis. Res. Mainly in the south and west (Apapasu) inmoist thickets, transition woodland with thick understorey (including Chromolaena), farmbush (south);local near Dome (valley bottom).

Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus. Res. Widespread in any woodland, farmbush; more common inthe north.


Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus. Res. Widespread and locally common in dry forest in the north andriparian forest or thicket near Apapasu and Apesika; also frequent in transition woodland (even at Walando,with some Chromolaena).

Yellow-crowned Gonolek Laniarius barbarus. Res. Highly local: some calling in thickets just behind the ripa-rian vegetation on the Obosum arm of the lake, Apesika.

Sulphur-breasted Bush Shrike Malaconotus sulfureopectus. Res. In riparian forest or thickets: widespread in thesouth (even in remnants of rain forest), more common near Dome and Apapasu.

Grey-headed Bush Shrike Malaconotus blanchoti. Res. Widespread in rich woodland and open forest in the west(including Dome) and south.

White Helmet Shrike Prionops plumatus. Res. Small numbers in woodland, almost throughout, but not recor-ded in the north-east (woodland too burnt?) in Jan.

Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii. Res. Common in tall riparian or dry forest in the Apapasu region (pairpresent even in an isolated patch of 1 ha) and Apesika ridge, including the Sumi river. More local in thesouth-west, in remnant of rain forest near Nsugyanafo.

Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis. Res. Widespread (in small numbers), woodland and open forest.Pied Crow Corvus albus. Res. A few on the boundaries, around guards’ camps.Purple Glossy Starling Lamprotornis purpureus. Res. Commonest starling in the savannas of the north

(Dome-Daditokolo): several pairs seen daily coming to drink on the lake-shore. Also a few pairs comingto the Obosum river at Apesika.

Bronze-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis chalcurus. Res. One pair coming to drink in the Sene river at Dome(Jan 2005); another at Daditokolo.

Long-tailed Glossy Starling Lamprotornis caudatus. Res. Seen only at Dome, at the river’s edge (both visits).Violet-backed (Amethyst) Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster. AM. Rare in Jan 2005: two pairs seen in a Daniellia

at Hwanyanso, 27 Jan. Widespread and common in Mar 2008 and 2009, in transition woodland and opendry forest. Fond of fruit of Lannea acida, Ficus ingens etc.

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus. Res. A few in riparian woodland, on the N. lake-shore, oraround guards’ camps (south, but not noted Apesika).

Bush Petronia Petronia dentata. AM. Small numbers in woodland north and south (Jan 2005). Common in theDome area early Mar 2008, but rather rare near Apapasu (7-12 Mar), when some may have alreadymoved out (northwards); however small numbers still present on the Apesika ridge 12-17 Mar 2009.

Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus. Res. A few in dry Baobab forest near Daditokolo (singing, in non-breedingdress 23 Jan.); two old nests seen in same area.

Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis. Res. A few pairs in the south and west (including Dome), in dry orriparian forest, also farmbush (southern boundary).

Heuglin’s Masked Weaver Ploceus heuglini. Res. Widespread in small numbers. One male in breeding dress 5Mar (Dome), and another building a nest in a Ceiba in Apapasu forest, 2 m above an occupied nest ofWestern Banded Snake Eagle, 10 Mar 2008. One male in breeding dress in woodland north of Bunasoon 16 Mar 2009. Two old nests seen in a Ceiba near Hwanyanso in Jan 2005.

Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus. Res. Widespread, including large non-breeding flocks feeding in Hypar-rhenia at Walando Jan 2005. Also in farmbush (south), woodland (Dome).

Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus. Res. One male in breeding dress seen on the edge of the Obo-sum river near its confluence with the Bunda, 14 Mar 2009.

Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps. Res. Widespread insectivorous species, in woodland and dry forest;one building a nest (well advanced) in a tall Ceiba, 11 Mar.

Red-headed Quelea Quelea erythrops. Res? Some seen in grassland on the edge of the Lake with other seed-eaters (Daditokolo), and two mist-netted at Walando, Jan 2005. Some flocks in the Dome area 2-4 Mar2008. In non-breeding dress, but males identified by the red flush on the cheeks, and sparrow-like callsdiffer from those of bishops.

Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer. Res. Some flocks in grassland on the N. lake-shore, Jan 2005. Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus. Res. Some flocks in tall grass on the Sene river, Dome, both Jan

and Mar; also some feeding in rank growth (regrowing after fires) edge of open forest. Small flocks on


the Obosum river, Apesika.Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus. Res. Some in farmbush in the south, Jan 2005. Flocks in grass-

land on the Sene and Obosum rivers, Mar.Yellow-mantled Whydah (Widowbird) Euplectes macroura. Res. In Jan 2005 a few non-breeding males iden-

tified in wet grass on the N. lake-shore, and in farmbush in the south. Widespread in Mar 2008 and 2009(Dome, Apapasu, Apesika), in small numbers in open woodland, with some males (still in non-breedingdress) starting to sing. But also large flocks in grassland near the Sene river (2-4 Mar).

Grey-crowned Negrofinch Nigrita canicapillus. Res. In the south and west only (Apapasu), small numbers inriparian forest and thickets, also farmbush (southern boundary).

Pale-fronted Negrofinch Nigrita luteifrons. Res. One seen in farmbush near Nsugyanafo, next to congener, 30Jan 2005. One heard in a patch of forest north of Apesika, 15 Mar 2009.

White-cheeked Olive-back Nesocharis capistrata. Res. A group of 4 (family?) in small thickets in woodland atDome, not far from the Sene river, 2 Mar 2008. One feeding on seeds of Chromolaena, edge of Obosumriparian forest, 14 Mar 2009. Very discreet species, easily overlooked.

Yellow-winged Pytilia Pytilia hypogrammica. Res. A pair in a patch of dense grass in woodland north of Ape-sika, 13 Mar 2009.

Western Bluebill Spermophaga haematina. Res. One male came to drink in a pool in dense forest on the Sumiriver, 16 Mar 2009.

Bar-breasted Firefinch Lagonosticta rufopicta. Res. Several in Hyparrhenia grassland on the N. lake-shore(Daditokolo), and common edge of the Sene river (Dome), and Obosum river (Apesika). Few edge ofriparian forest near Apapasu.

Black-bellied Firefinch Lagonosticta rara. Res. Discreet species, eventually found almost throughout, rankgrowth and riparian thickets near Dome, Apapasu (the dominant firefinch), Apesika, farmbush near Nsu-gyanafo. Usually in pairs.

Blue-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata. Res. Widespread: in rank grass on the lake-shore at Walando,few in the west, e.g. in Chromolaena (Dome, Apapasu), but the most common firefinch in the south-west (farmbush), more local at Apesika.

Black-faced Firefinch Lagonosticta larvata. Res. Pairs in a few places in short woodland on the Apesika ridge,Mar 2009.

Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda. Res. Widespread (grassland).Black-rumped Waxbill Estrilda troglodytes. Res. Some small flocks coming to drink in the Sene river (Dome),

2-3 Mar 2008.Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullatus. Res. Widespread (any grass).Indigobird Vidua ?camerunensis. Res. One in non-breeding dress associating with Blue-billed Firefinch, Nsu-

gyanafo (30 Jan 2005), thus probably the species camerunensis (which parasitizes this firefinch). Togo Paradise Widow Vidua togoensis. Res. Up to six individuals (non-breeding dress) feeding on track near

Apesika village, Mar 2009.Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus. Res. A few in dry forest (Daditokolo, Dome), farmbush (south),

woodland (Apesika) and transition woodland (Apapasu), including on a fruiting Lannea acida.Streaky-headed Seedeater Serinus gularis. Res. A group, calling, in Daniellia woodland near Apapasu forest,

11 Mar. Easily overlooked when not singing (which it does only in the rains), this species might be morewidespread.

Cabanis’s Bunting Emberiza cabanisi. Res. A few singing in woodland on the Apesika ridge, often near bovals,Mar 2009.

5. LARGE MAMMALS

We saw few large mammals, even in the area we visited well inside the park, i.e. Apapasu. Red-flanked DuikerCephalophus rufilatus and Baboons Papio anubiswere noted at Daditokolo and in the Apapasu region, and tracksof another duiker (Maxwell’s? C. maxwelli) in the south-west; one Cephalophus sp. was heard in a forest patchnorth of Apesika. Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptuswas seen or heard in several places. A Common or Bush Duiker


Sylvicapra grimmia was seen near Apapasu. Three Kob Kobus kob were flushed on the way to the Sumi river,and two Waterbuck (female and immature) Kobus ellipsiprymnus just opposite Apesika camp (inside the park).Reasonably fresh Elephant Loxodonta africana tracks were obvious in the south-west, right on the boundaryand even a short way outside the park (Hwanyanso); some very fresh ones were seen near Apapasu and oldertracks around the Sumi stream. Warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus is said to be common around Apapasu andwe saw fresh dung.

Green Monkeys Cercopithecus aethiops were seen in forest remnants in the south and south-west, onthe Sumi river and at Apapasu; Patas Monkeys Cercopithecus patas were encountered near the Obosum river(west of Apesika). Cusimanses Crossarchus obscurus were seen near Apapasu and the Obosum river. Large fru-givorous bats included Hypsignathus monstrosus, a forest species (heard in forest patches in the south-west),and Epomops franqueti (north and south). Forest squirrels well seen in riparian forest in Apapasu and the south-west were Funisciurus pyrropus and sun squirrel Heliosciurus rufobrachium. A Spotted Genet Genetta tigrinawas very well seen by day in a patch of forest near Apapasu. The small bushbaby Galago senegalensis wasclearly heard around Apapasu, Apesika and Bunaso.

The following information is based on two interviews with staff (mainly the mobile team) at Daditokolo in2005 and Dome in 2008:Large terrestrial mammals (other than those seen by us as above) reported by staff include Bush Pig Potamo-choerus porcus, Buffalo Syncerus caffer, Bongo Tragelaphus euryceros (south), Maxwell’s, Black and Yellow-backed Duikers Cephalophus maxwelli, C. niger and C. sylvicultor, Oribi Ourebia ourebi, Hartebeest Alcelaphusbuselaphus, Roan Antelope Hippotragus equinus, Hyaena Crocuta crocuta, Civet Civettictis civetta, ServalFelis serval, Lion Panthera leo (recent records include some heard in 2007), Leopard Panthera pardus (basedon footprint), Antbear (Aardvark) Orycteropus afer, all three pangolins including Giant Pangolin Smutsia gigan-tea, Tree Hyrax Dendrohyrax dorsalis (south). There is a puzzling record of Giant Forest Hog Hylochoerusmeinertzhageni killed by poachers at Dankele (6 miles from Dome) in 1989, and it is now considered extinct.Of primates Spot-nosed Monkey Cercopithecus petaurista is said to be not only common in the Apapasu area(alongside Campbell’s C. campbelli and Black-and-White Colobus Colobus vellerosus) but also on the Obo-sum and Sumi in the south. Unfortunately we saw no sign of these monkeys during our visits, which may beworrying. Although the habitat looks suitable for Colobus monkeys throughout the south and west (dry Ceiba-Cola forest), we have doubts about the occurrence of a species like Campbell’s Monkey in such dry forest asApapasu. Either we did not get to the main forest area, despite claims by the guards that we did, or the exactlocation of Campbell’s Monkey is elsewhere. One hunter, now working as a guard (Ibrahim Mahomed), is ap-parently familiar with Mangabey Cercocebus torquatus and Olive Colobus Procolobus verus— the latter wouldbe found in thickets between the Digya and Obosum arms.

The aquatic vegetation in the north, especially the floating grass Vossia, appeared very suitable forManatee Trichechus senegalensis, and indeed this animal had been seen recently by guards at Walando, andoccasionally near Daditokolo (it is also known from the Digya arm); one was even brought into Dome camprecently. Hippos Hippopotamus amphibius are said to survive mainly in the Digya arm, but one wandered toDaditokolo in 2003.

Unfortunately the report on a zoological survey by Vivian Wilson and Sam K. Moses of the mid-1990s hasbeen lost completely. There remains a preliminary report by Wilson (1994), before his visit to Digya, who hadrather wrongly assumed most species of large mammals to have become extinct.

Training of wildlife guards in identification of mammal species is essential to improve knowledge andconservation of the park’s mammals.


6. CONSERVATION ISSUES

One of the main problems in protecting Digya’s habitats is that of late fires. Given the enormous size of the parkand the low staff force, there is no way that a policy of early burning can be applied everywhere. Yet it wouldseem desirable to protect at least the main patches of rain forest in the south from dangerous late fires. The rem-nant of rain forest we visited near Nsugyanafo had been rather badly scorched on the periphery. Improving theprotection of fragile habitats through early burning would require both more guards and also improved access.The complete lack of roads, even the most elementary bush roads, is a serious problem. Even in the north, drywoodland can suffer from very late fires, as was seen on the January visit.

Anti-poaching activities are also restricted by the low staff force, although one of the most useful initia-tives is the mobile unit, which visits all areas of the park on foot or by canoe. But some of the local teamsseem to lack supervision or encouragement. We are particularly concerned about the Apapasu area, wherepoachers were heard shooting every day while we were there. The team based at Sabum (in a village too farfrom the park) and other neighbouring teams no longer visit the area on the pretext that it is too far. The dis-tance is not great, however, but it is evident that the area would be better prospected if guards were based at theold Sabuso camp instead. There is water very close to Sabuso at the village of Agoamu on the park’s boundary.As we have re-opened the track to Apapasu camp thanks to Mr Bosco’s lorry, the park management might lookinto rehabilitating the Apapasu camp itself, as the buildings there are still in good condition. Water is availablein the form of rain water and rock pools in the streams from at least March to November.

Our short visit to Apesika and the section of park just north of the Obosum river also led us across poachers:several people with guns and dried meat were met on a boval 1-2 km north of the river crossing (15 Mar 2009).The meat was recovered by the guards who accompanied us, but the poachers got away.

REFERENCES

Borrow N. & Demey R. 2001. Birds of West Africa. London: Christopher Helm.Dowsett R.J. & Forbes-Watson A. 1993. Checklist of the birds of the Afrotropical and Malagasy re-

gions. Liège: Tauraco Press. Dowsett-Lemaire F. & Dowsett R.J. 2005. Ornithological surveys in Digya National Park (January 2005).

Accra: Wildlife Division (22 pp.).Fishpool L.D.C. & Evans M.I. (Eds) 2001. Important bird areas in Africa and associated islands. Priority sites

for conservation. Newbury and Cambridge, UK: Pisces Publications and BirdLife International. Grimes L.G. 1987. The birds of Ghana. London: British Ornithological Trust. Check-list no. 9.Gschweng M., Kalko E.K.V., Querner V., Fiedler W. & Berthold P. 2008. All across Africa: highly individual

migration routes of Eleonora’s Falcon. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. B, doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.0575.Helsens T. 1996. New information on birds in Ghana. Malimbus 18: 1-9.Moyer D.C. 1995. Natural Resource Conservation for the Central Region, Ghana. Bird survey work

- Kakum National Park. Conservation Int. & Dept. of Game & Wildlife. Unpubl. report, 38 pp.Horwood M.T. 1964. Notes on some West African bee-eaters. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 1(1): 2-5.Reichenow A. 1897. Zur Vogelfauna von Togo. J. Orn. 45: 1-57.Wilson V.J. 1994. Zoological aspects of a systems plan for Ghana. GWD/IUCN Project 9786 (27 pp.).


APPENDIX 1. ITINERARY AND TIMETABLE

2005. January 20: arrival at Dome at dusk, camping right on the edge of the Sene river, departing the next morning

for Daditokolo;21: drive to village opposite Daditokolo, crossing the Lake by boat midday to Daditokolo camp;22-23: exploration of woodland and dry forest, up to c. 3 km south-west along a footpath. Canoe trip along shore

in afternoon of 22nd;23 afternoon: transfer by boat to Walando camp, c. 20 km west of Daditokolo;24-25: as Walando has no access to interior, mist-netting of birds in tall grass on lake-shore, and canoe trip

along shore;25: mid-morning return to Daditokolo by boat; drive from there to Kumasi;26: drive to Donkorkrom, with midday ferry crossing at Adowso. Drive on to Hwanyanso camp reached just

after dark;27-29: local observations, along boundary line; on 28th RJD visits patch of dry forest a few km inside;29 afternoon: drive to Nsugyanafo camp, arriving after dark;30-31: observations around Nsugyanafo, including best remnant of rain forest left in the area, c. 3 km from

camp. Left late morning on 31st.

2008.March 1: afternoon drive to Dome, crossing the Sene river by boat at dusk;2-4: exploration of lake-shore (two afternoon boat trips), dry forest and woodland near guards’ camp.5: leave mid-morning for Atebubu. Drive on to Seneso, camping on the Sene river. 6: car has to be left at Anyinofi as road becomes impassable. Carry on with Mr Bosco’s lorry until Sabum vil-

lage and guards’ camp, and from there to the abandoned Sabuso camp on the park’s boundary. The oldtrack beyond that is often invisible as much of the woodland has been invaded by Chromolaena. It tookus all afternoon to reach the old Apapasu camp, only 10 km inside the park. After spending the firstnight at Apapasu camp, we moved our tent to the edge of riparian forest immediately to the west for 2nights, then to riparian forest 1 km to the north-east for 3 nights;

7-12: exploration of riparian forest and woodland west and north-east of Apapasu camp, then on to “the big fo-rest” on the Apapa stream on 10 Mar, after the old path had been cleared by two guards. This area is about2 km to the north-northeast of Apapasu camp. Revisit the area on 11 Mar. Departure at 11h on 12 Mar,reaching Sabum village and camp at 13h.

2009.March 12: arrival at Apesika camp early afternoon;13-15: exploration of bovals, woodland and patches of dry forest up to 5.5 km north of the Obosum river; of

an arm of the river/lake just east of camp, and of the Obosum river and riparian forest upstream;March 15: transfer to Bunaso in the afternoon, via Donkorkrom;March 16: 18-km walk (return) to the Sumi river and riparian forest, via the Obosum river;March 17: leave Bunaso after a couple of hours near the Obosum river.

APPENDIX 2. GAZETTEER

Apapa stream (forest) ............................................................................7°23.5Ń, 0°36.6´WApapasu camp........................................................................................7°22.7Ń, 0°37.6´WApesika camp (Obosum river) .....................................................................7°11Ń, 0°09´WBunaso village..............................................................................................7°11Ń, 0°16´WDaditokolo camp..........................................................................................7°42Ń, 0°09´WDome camp (Sene river)..............................................................................7°34Ń, 0°38´WHwanyanso camp.........................................................................................7°10Ń, 0°38´WNsugyanafo camp ........................................................................................7°08Ń, 0°28´WObosum/Bunda confluence..........................................................................7°12Ń, 0°14´WSumi river ....................................................................................................7°15Ń, 0°17´WWalando camp..............................................................................................7°38Ń, 0°20´W


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